Many people can become pharmacy technicians and join a fast-growing career field. The people who take their careers farthest, however, are those who devote themselves to developing the right skill set. The Praxis Institute provides healthcare career training for students in the Miami, Florida region. Here, we discuss essential pharmacy technician skills to practice through our Pharmacy Technician program.

Technical Knowledge

The first set of skills you’ll need as a pharmacy technician are often called “hard” skills. These include technical abilities and expertise and are often the first things you imagine when considering your pharmacy technician training. A competent pharmacy tech will be knowledgeable in the following areas:

• Mathematics
• Knowledge of medications
• Data entry
• Medical records software
• Sanitization protocols
• Pharmacy laws and regulations

While a formal higher education isn’t required to work as a pharmacy technician, it’s the best opportunity to learn the hard skills you’ll apply on the certification exam and every day in the workplace. This is why attending a career training program like the one at The Praxis Institute is recommended. Our experienced instructors will provide you with the foundation you’ll need to excel.

Attention to Detail

In addition to hard skills, pharmacy technicians also need a set of “soft” skills. These can be understood as interpersonal skills and good workplace behaviors. While they aren’t directly or exclusively related to pharmaceuticals, they are just as necessary to perform well in your career.

The first “soft” skill is attention to detail. Pharmacy technicians may handle dozens or even hundreds of medications daily, each with a unique compound and instructions. Close attention to detail is needed to ensure that each one is mixed and labeled accurately and without contamination. Even minor errors will put a patient’s health and well-being at risk.

Organizational Ability

Pharmacy technicians don’t only mix medications; they are also responsible for managing an extensive inventory. You’ll keep track of supplies and report when refills are needed. You’ll also be managing medical records, preparing medications on a schedule, and multitasking often. Organizational skills are a must to keep your responsibilities in order and ensure nothing gets forgotten.

Customer Service

While working at a pharmacy, you’ll interact with the public on a daily basis. You’ll take orders, deliver refills, and answer questions about the medications you provide. Many people you serve will be stressed, sick, or elderly, creating potential challenges for communication. Therefore, excellent customer service skills are essential. You’ll need to remain professional while addressing patient requests and concerns to their satisfaction.

High Ethical Standards

Pharmacy work is sensitive. It involves handling restricted medications, confidential medical records, and delicate information about customers and people in your community. Ethical standards, therefore, are important. You must adhere to high standards of behavior to mitigate harm and ensure that patient privacy is protected.

Physical Stamina

Finally, pharmacy technicians need stamina. You might not think of this as a physical job. Like other professionals in the medical field, however, pharmacy techs often spend long days on their feet. You may also have to lift heavy boxes of supplies or equipment. If you’re physically fit, you will have an easier time getting through a day of work. You’ll stay fresh and alert longer and feel less exhausted when your shift ends.

Develop Your Pharmacy Technician Skills

You can practice technical and soft skills while studying at The Praxis Institute. Our programs are guided by experienced instructors, and our class scheduling is flexible to fit into your working schedule. Enrollment is open weekly, and we offer financial aid to help you cover tuition. Contact us in Miami or Hialeah, FL, to learn more about the pharmacy technician skills we help students develop in our programs. The Pharmacy Technician Program at The Praxis Institute is accredited by the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP) and the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE)